Heating device for oil wells



June 2, 1925.

\ R. s. PERSHU HEATI NG DEVICE F05;

, Filed Oct. 5, 1922 llu l lfl igl.

Patentedi-l 1 925;

UNITED STATES- PATENT joFr cE RQYAL'S.; linnsnme, or ronrivonrn', TEXAS.

HEATING 'nnvior, role out WELLS.

Application 'filed October '3, 1922; Serial no. 592,055.

T 0 all whom it mag concern: v A Be ltknown that I, ROYAL S. PnRsHi-Ne, a

citizen of the United States, residing atlFo'rt Worth; in the county vof Tan-ant .andState of Texas, have invented ertain new and' useful Improvements in Heating Devices for o- Oil lVells olt' which the following is jafspecia This invention. relates to improvements in electric heating devices used inthe" process of applying heat byelectrical means to the oil'bearing rocks orsands of oil wells for the purpose o'f'reinoving deposits. accretions or accumulations of paraffin or any other jvaxy or gummy substances from the exposed parts any other purpose desiied'where it-is' necesy from the groundjto provide means-for the ,to each other, the several heating elements sary or required underthe surface of the ground for the purpose of liquefying any substance either solid,semi-soli d:or semi liquid, for the purpose of removing thempurpose of heating water: and generating steam underground Where it 1s' des1red to usesteain for such purpose; and to provide a',

heater for applying a'heatto liquids; semi liquids, solids 101 semi-solids- -by submerging the devicein'th'e substance to be-.-heated, th'e' device bei-ngeither fixed'o'r movable andin' each instance. properly connected by means of. proper electric conductors to a source of electric current suflicient to operate-Hthe-de-v vice,

A feature of myin'vention is the simplicity of construction, thus eliminating the necessity of having'the-many metallic contacts or connections requiring heavy insulation to prevent the grounding or shorting of the electric current. when the electric heating I thereof,. to provide free and'easy access to .thecopper conductors in-order that proper 105 1 device is'inoperation.

Another feature of my intention. is the assembly therein ofa series of interchangeableheating elements or units eaehproducing the sam ejamount of resistance and-each properly insulated-and so arranged and connected With-theconductors which supply the electric current consumed that the maximum amou'nt of heat may he produced from the.

electric 1 current? passing through the resistance elementsof theseveral heating'elcments or units.

Another vfeature of; my invention is the provision of necessary capacity to generate and produce Whatever amountof heat may he required to meet the needs of the ,Work' to bedone, by either increasing the size of the heating elements or. units or increasing the number thereof or by doing both.

Another fcature of my invention is the I prov sion there nof a means-1 whereby the several elements and parts entering into the construction of the apparatus shall be those best'suited for-the several purposes in Which shell g or container pure copper; for the heating 'elementsya proper alloy" having 'suitahlefresistance for the amount of curfren't used; forthe-supporting and holding in I place ',of the heating elements, a properly constructed support for the muffles and a v 80 supporting member, both' composed of in- 'sulatlng material; and for the conductors,

the prope'r size copper r their service-is required. viz; for the outer Another feature is the provision of the particular means for supporting and maintainingin their proper-position and relation or units comprising the heater itself. This result i's'obtained by the particular form and ing elements or units comprising the heater; and the form cr -shape o'f-the supporting members which-are interposed "be tween each of. the jmuflles, and between them and the ends of the shellor contamer.

Another-feature is to provide in the supporting members 1 suitable ports, opening,

into theconduits for: the copper conductors,

one in each end thereof and on opposite sides H connections can. be madetlieret'o by the Wires sary supporting members properly adapted for the purpose and so arranged and assembled that all the expansion caused by applying heat thereto, will bepermitted without causing disarrangement thereof or interference with the proper operation of the heater.

Another feature is to provide two suitable conduits, passing thru and enclosed by the muffles; and the several supporting members properly aligned with each other wherein the copper conductors may be enclosed and insulated and allowed to pass thru the body of the heater connecting the terminals thereof with the several heating elements or units; and said conduit at the same time permitting the copper conductors to hang freely therein from their connections with the terminals which support them and in this manner providing allowance for expansion without any danger of buckling.

Another feature is to provide a suitable shell or container to enclose and protect the several member composing the necessary elements comprising the heater assembly; for this purpose a copper containerof suitable length and diameter and thickness being used. It may be either threaded on bo h ends for attaching a suitable cap or plug thereto, or constructed with a band collar or lug welded or otherwise attached to the outside of the container, for the purpose of forming an attachment or seat for a clamp or clamps; and a recess or recesses may be made therein wherein the end or ends of the clamps may engage, to prevent'danger of being dislocated when in use, and when holding the two covers or caps closing the shell or container. The ends of the shell or container are intended'to be extended a suitable distance beyond the band collar or lug, and engage and enter a groove in the caps or covers used to complete the tube.

Another feature is to provide suitable caps or covers for closing the ends of the shell or container which will properly seal it and render it impervious to air, gas or liquids with which .it may come in contact, and allow and provide for proper openings for the entrance of the terminals connecting to the electric conductors and provide a means for connecting with the cable or cables needed to operate the heater, by lowering it into the well to the position required or in withdrawing it therefrom, it being intended that a groove correspond ing to the size of the end of the shell or container shall be provided to engage it thereinand that a packing ng of asbestos shall be placed therein to p rovide suitable packing for the joint or connection. In case it is desired to use a threaded cap for closing the ends of the shell or container, the ends of the shell or container shall be threaded and the caps or covers similarly threaded vto engage the threaded ends, also it is intended that a threaded collar shall be first screwed onto the ends of the shell or container, the side of which would be next to the cap or cover being cut out forming half of a V shaped opening, the part of the end or cover following the band orcollar already screwed on to the end of the shell or container forming the other half of the V shaped opening and when abutted together this opening is filled with packing thus providing for added security in closing the joint against air, gas or liquids which may be encountered. The cap or cover forming the top is composed of two pieces, one machined to the proper thickness and with a grooved joint fitted to the end of the shell or container, with the necessary openings for admitting the terminal connection; the other piece consisting'of a cap, with a sufficient part of thesame cut away to allow the terminals opening in the first piece full clearance passing out, and the shoulder left to be machined to fit'the top of the other piece making a ground joint therewith when screwed into place on the end of the shell or container, and being also fitted for the same packing joint as described for the other end. Or the cap may be held in place by clamping means fitted to engage the collar or lugs attached to the shell or container and engaging therewith, connected to a cross member 'thru which cross member there is a threaded hole, and into which threaded hole a threaded bolt is screwed against the cap or cover engaging a depression in the cap or cover to seat the end of the bolt and so holdingboth in proper alignment with each other and the end of the container, and providingmeans for applying pressure to bring them together and close the end of the container.

The principle of the invention may b more clearly understood taken in connection with the drawings attached hereto, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the assembly of the entire device, with a part of the containing copper cylinder cut away to-showmthe arrangement of the interior. and a cross sectional view of the cylinder cap, and means of support of the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the supporting and coil-bearing elements of the heating unit,.with part cut away to show a cross-section of both element.

Figure 3, is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the cylinder cap in its rela- -tion to the cylinder. when. in place upon it;

and also the terminal connection of the copper conductors supporting the heating units.

Referring more in detail to the accompanyin drawings 1 indicates the casing or is preferably composed of copper, The the cores,"thehea dsfornied with pockets 0X lower end of the casing is closedby a cap 1 While the upper end has secured thereto a closure cap 8,;thereby providing a tight jointed casing for inclosing thc several, heating units.

Eachheating unit heads-or sections 2 having theirvopposing faces recessed, as at 2' to receive the adjacent endsof an interposed; core 3' of insulating-material; This core is preferably cylindrieal and has-its periphery spirally-"grooved to form a, spiral seat to receive the coils,

' wrappings, or windings, ofthe resistance wire a, At diagonally opposite points each head Eli s. provided with a pair of recessesor pockets d and e. In the preferredform' of the heads and cores are alternately ar.

cat ed at b and 0. -'The conductor rods pass upwardly through the cap 8 of insulation; 20, and also through ai cmss bar 7 or like ma ranged and in-their nested relation are" provided with a pair of registering openings though which the conductor ,rods 4 extend,

said rods being exposed only wherethey pass.

through the p'ockets'd or esuch provision being made to facilitate the electrical. co'nnection betweenthe conductor rods" andthe respective ends of the heating coils, as inditerial, or one insulatddfroni theqzonductors, where they are connected to the supply or line wires, as indicated at 10.

' A collar6 is securely fastened to the'upper w I end portion of casing 1 to provide a firm seating or contact between the collar and cap 8, suitable packing beingprovided to renderthejoint absolutely liquid and-air tight. A pair ofihooks 5 engage beneath the lower edgefof collarfi and have'their upper ends attached tothe cross bar 7, A

' clamping bolt or screw 9 is threaded through the'cross bar 7 and has bearing in a con -caved seat formed in the "upper space ofcag 8. v c

romthe 'foregoing it Wlll be noted that the pair of conductor rods solely support the several heating: units whichare-ad ustable],

. thereon and comprise-the cores and heads alternately arranged in interlocking relation The casing is closedat both ends, the I engaged with the heads, saidheads having and serving as abearing for the ,screw9' by which the cap is-tightly clamped. to the casing. -The pockets a house the connection between the resistance elements and the rods 4 so asto provide a neat construction with-' out having projecting loose wiresf What is claimed is:

Y '1. -An oil well heater comprisinga plural c ity of cores and heads alternately arranged,

the opposite ends of the heads being formed with sockets to receive the adjacent ends of the adjoining cores, conductor rods passlng continuously through the several cores and heads, and resistance eleinents supported by consists-of a pair of ed to theelei'nents and to the headsfor holdposing therods for connecting the elements.

to the rods.

ported by each, core,'and conductors connecting' the heads and cores'in their, assembled relation.

3. An electric heater comprising a plum} ity of heads and cores alternately arranged and interlocked, resistance element sup-' ported by each core, said heads-and" cores being provided with ahned openings, and

conductor rods passing through the openings for connecting the-cores and heads to-- gether" and connected to the several resistance-elements.

4. An electric. heater comprising. a casing,

a pair of conductor rods'extending lengthwise therein, a. pluralitybf heating'mnits supported by and connected to the rods and Imeans'for holding the units on the rods. ".'.5.' An electrlcheater comprising a casing,

-"a conductor rod extending lengthwise there: in, a plurality of cores' slidably adjusteable on the rod, a resistance element, coiled about eacli coreand connected at one end to-the"*rod, and ahead interposed between adjacent .cores and housing the connection between the resistance element and the rod, 6. I-n'a he'ater,--a pair of heads,- a core in terposed between the headsand engaged therewith, a pair of electric conductor rods extending through-the core and heads for holding the core between the heads, and -resistance means onthe core connected to the conductor rods.

j. 7. In a heater, 'a palr of heads, a coreinterpo'sed between theheads and engaged therewith, a pair of electric conductor rods extending-through the coreandh'eads for holding the core between the heads, and a resistance wire coiled abontthe, core and connected at its ends to the respective rods. 8. In a heater,a pair of heads, a core in+ terposedjbetween the heads, a pair of'electric conductor rods extending through the core and'heads for holding the corebetween and cut-out portions to permit accessto parts oi the; conductor wires fromthe' ext'eriors.of

' the heads, and. resistance means on'the core connected to the" conductor rods in said cut-' out portions.

9.-In a heater, a pluralityoi cores and.

on the cores, electric conductor rodsextend v headsalternately arranged, resistance means.- 7

tube, a cap on the upper end of the tube, a

collar on the tube having its upper end abutting the lower side of the cap, a cross bar above the cap, hooks carried by the cross bar and engaged with the lower side of the collar, and a screw threaded through the cross bar and bearing upon the cap to efi'ect adjustable engagement betweenthe cap and collar.

10. Ina heater, a plurality of cores and heads alternately arranged, resistance means on the cores, electric conductor rods extendthe lower side of the cap, and means to adjustably connect the collar to the cap.

11. In a heater, a pair of electric conductor rods, cores threaded on the rods, a pair of heads for each core also threaded on the rods, means to hold -.the heads on the rods in engagement with the interposed cores.

ROYAL S. PFRSHING. 

